Improved sluice for quartz- m i lls



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JWM 723 Mines. s es IINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH LOGAN, OF WASI-10E CITY, NEVADA.

nvnnoviab sLulcE FOR QUARTZ-MILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,723, dated February '20, 1866.

To all whom it may concern: I

Beit known that I, HUGH LOGAN, of Washoe City, in the county of Washoe and State of Nevada, have invented a new and Improved Sluice for Quartz-Mills; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specitication, in Wh'ieh- Figure l represents a plan or top View of this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, taken in the plane indicated by the line m, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same, the plane of section being indicated by the line y y, Fig. l. v

Similar letters ot' reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a sluice which is intended for use in such quartzmills where argentiferous quartz is worked by what is known as the Wet77 process, or,in other words, Where the pulp is ground and amalgamated in pans.

In workin g silver-bearing quartz it is necessary to grind the quicksilver With the pulp in order to effect amalgamation, but in doing so the shoes of the muller-plates, coming in contact with the dies or ribs on the bottom, create so much friction that a considerable quantity of quicksilver is formed into globules, in which state it seems to lose all aiiinity for that remaining in its natural state, and is liable to be carried off with the tailings or dbris and dumped in some vacant place or into a river or ravine, as the case may be.

The sluice which is represented in the accompanyin g drawings is intended to catch the quicksilver which has formed into globules, and which, together with some portion of the sulphurets, is liable to run oft and be wasted, for most ot' the silver worked at present is contained in sulphurets, and in no case is the pulp so thoroughly ground but some sulphurets escape with the tailings.

rlhe operation of my sluice is based on the principle that the sulphurets and globular quicksilver is heavier than sand and water, and therefore has a tendency -to move along on the bottom of the sluice.

My sluiceis composed of a series of sections,

which are connected and placed on a suitable grade, the section A being intended to represent the sluice running from'the mill. This section is furnished with two gates, a, 'which serve to regulate the quantity of water required to be run on either side of the second section, B, or it' it isdesired to run it all on one side this object is obtained by shutting the opposite gate.

The second section, B, and also the follow ing sections are divided by a series of longitudinal partitions, b, in several compartments, c d, and the water discharging from the gates a, is prevented by abutments c from entering the compartments or pockets d.

The compartments c are provided with rounded or ^shaped grooved false bottoms m, which are situated at such a height above the bottoms of the pockets d that the sulphurets and the quicksilver which accumulate in the grooves ofthe false bottoms pass through uuder the partitions b into the pockets d, Where they are held by the end bars, c. The sand which passes through the grooves is caused to ow out over the end bars by the action of the Water, which is continually eftervescing, thereby keeping the sand in motion and allowing the sulphurets and the Quicksilver to settle down.

rIhe Water and sand discharging from the section B of the sluice passes into the suc ceeding section C, which is constructed precisely like the section B, and triangular abutments f at the bottom end of the section B cause the water and sand to pass into those compartments of the section G which are provided with false grooved bottoms, like the compartments c. Any sulphurets and quicksilver still existing in the Water are retained in the pockets of the section C, or, if desired, still another section may be added.

The partitions c are held in position by yokes g, which are secured to the several sections of the sluice, and the upper cross-bars of which are provided with grooves to catch over the top edges of said partitionsl and to take suitable keys or wedges by means of which the partitions are fastened.

By following these directions a sluice can be constructed which prevents all waste of quicksilver and of sulphurets, and which can be easily put up and operated with little trouble or attention.

If desired, a screen Vot sheet-iron may be placed overtbe grooved false bottom, being perforated with holes'which are directly over the grooves, in order to prevent the accumulation of bers, Wood, and other impurities in the grooves of the false bottom.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Leti ters Patent- 1. The grooved false bottoms m in the conipartments c of the sections of the sluice. in combination with the longitudinal partitions b and pockets d, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The triangular abutments e f,in combination with thev compartments c d ofthe sluice, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The yokes g, with suitable Wedges or keys, in combination with the longitudinal partitions b of the sluice, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

HUGH LOGAN;v

Witnesses:

D. QUiMBY, p WILLIAM R. KING. 

